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Important Updates

  • The priority filing date for the 2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA has been extended to May 2, 2024. Visit Apply for Financial Aid for details.
  • The Department of Education has announced they will send information from the 2024-25 FAFSA to schools in mid-March. This may result in a delay in financial aid packaging and offers for the 2024-25 academic year. While awaiting your financial aid offer, we encourage you to utilize the UC Davis Financial Aid Estimator to estimate your potential aid.

Title IV Authorization FAQs

This information is subject to change. Please check back often for updates. For more information, visit Return of Title IV Funds and Refund Policies.

  • What are federal Title IV funds?
  • Title IV funds are federal student aid funds, which are from federal student aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education regulations only allow schools to use federal student aid to pay for current academic year institutional charges unless the student has granted permission to apply these funds to non-institutional charges.

    Title IV funds include:
    - Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
    - Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
    - Direct PLUS Loans
    - Federal Pell Grants
    - Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOGs)

    Federal Title IV funds do not include scholarships from the university or other private organizations.

    Allowable (institutional) charges:
    - Tuition
    - Course Material Fees
    - Registrar Document Fee
    - Housing and Food, if contracted with the University

    Non-allowable (non-institutional) charges include:
    - Prior Term Debt
    - Orientation Fees
    - Health Insurance
    - Equitable Access Fee
    - Bookstore Fees
    - Health service/lab fees
    - Library fees
    - Late fees
    - Miscellaneous fees
  •  How are Title IV funds applied to my account?
  • The U.S. Department of Education requires that Title IV funds be applied to specific allowable charges. Allowable charges include tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board billed by the University. If a student's total of Title IV funds exceeds the total of these qualifying charges, the University must refund that excess to the student unless the student gives permission to do otherwise.
  •  Does the authorization form need to be signed each year?
  • Yes. The authorization is required for each academic year. The initial authorization is completed through MyAwards. The authorization may be rescinded or changed by the student by submitting a Federal Title IV Authorization form through Contact An Expert.
  •  What does the authorization say?
  • Pursuant to regulations, students must confirm how Title IV Federal funds should be disbursed. Students have two options:

    1. Authorize: authorizes all financial aid, including Title IV Federal funds, be applied toward the total balance due on the student's UC Davis student account. Any remaining funds will be disbursed to the student at the beginning of each term.  
       OR
    2. Decline: Title IV federal funds will only apply to tuition and fees, and housing charges. By selecting this option, the student will become liable for all charges not covered by financial aid and must be paid by the fee deadline, or the student will be dropped from courses for non-payment. 

    The initial authorization is completed through MyAwards. The authorization may be rescinded or changed by the student by submitting a Federal Title IV Authorization form through Contact An Expert.
  • What if I don't grant the authorizations?
  • If a student does not grant authorization, federal financial aid and loans cannot be used to pay for charges other than tuition, fees, University housing, and meal plans and any excess aid will be refunded to the student. Therefore, the student may receive a refund and may simultaneously be sent a bill for any charges that could not be paid with Title IV aid. Receiving a refund does not indicate that there are no pending charges on a student's account.

    Sample Student Account – Unauthorized to pay non-institutional charges:

    sample student account screenshot

    Note: Even though a refund was issued for $2,923.24, this student still owes $1,110.33 for non-institutional charges ($199 Equitable Fee, $904 SHIP, and $7.33 Bookstore Charge). If this student had completed the Title IV Authorization, their federal funds would have paid the $1,110.33 in non-institutional charges, and the student would have instead received a refund of $1,812.91. In this case, the student must still make a payment even though a refund was issued.
  •  What if I change my mind after submitting the online form?
  • These authorizations are voluntary and will remain in effect for the duration of the student's academic year or award year. The initial authorization is completed through MyAwards. The authorization may be rescinded or changed by the student by submitting a Federal Title IV Authorization form through Contact An Expert.
  • We may be reached in person, by phone, or email through Contact Us
  • More Financial Aid and Scholarships FAQs